Sunday, December 28, 2008

A Tip from 2008: Honoring Heirlooms

Okay, I will admit it, I cringed when my mother told me two days after my daughter was born that she had saved my childhood wooden kitchen set and was having it shipped to our house. As you can imagine, after receiving all of the baby equipment that comes with adding a little one to your home, this was the last thing that my husband wanted to hear. But now, I really appreciate that she saved these to pass down to my daughter. My daughter is six years old and they are still a favorite of hers and her playmates. After all, they truly just don't make them like this anymore.... or do they?

The people of Natural Pod have just debuted two heirloom quality wooden play kitchens, just like the one my mother saved for my daughter. The wooden Chef's Kitchen and Hutch includes a sliding chopping board and oven rack, fun twirly knobs, and a removable sink for easy clean-up. The Chef's Portable Kitchen is better for smaller spaces, sporting the same great knobs/sink/play-top, minus the oven and cabinet, and is perfect for tight city living!

A perfect thing for your holiday list... a toy that not only your child will enjoy for years, but even your grandchildren!

Check out the beautiful kitchen sets (and other great toys, too!) at Natural Pod.

Enjoy!

A Tip from 2008: Something to Sink Your Teeth Into

Is there any better time to introduce the joys of toothbrushing to your kids than during holidays full of sweets? It's a perfect time to discuss how important it is for children to keep their teeth clean! There are two toothbrushing tools that I would recommend; the Recycline's Preserve toothbrush and a timer, so they know how long to brush their teeth for.

The handle of Recycline's toothbrush is made out of recycled Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups (I have contributed to their cause, as it's a favorite at our house). When you're done with your toothbrush, you can send it back (postage paid) to have them recycle it into something else. Very environmentally friendly!

I love this product, especially in this day and age when we have to be wary of anything plastic. Recycline also makes cute, fun tableware, food storage containers and other personal care items. They're all BPA free and dishwasher safe too!

Check out Recycline's programs and products at www.recycline.com/

Enjoy!

Kim

A Tip from 2008: Avoiding the Power Struggle

Hello Triple B Members,

I am certainly no expert and I continue to have power struggles with my
daughter, however I have received a couple of tips along the way that are
helpful. Several people have mentioned that they have been experiencing
some challenging behavior with their little ones lately (which is par for
the course at this stage in the parenting game), so I thought I would share
a book that I found to be very helpful.

Lucky for me, one of my best friends is a child psychologist, so I turn to
her for book recommendations and advice quite often. One of the books she recommended to me in resolving the ongoing battle with power
struggles was "Parenting With Love and Logic" by Foster
W. Cline and Jim Fay. While I did not agree with the entire book, I found
the overall premise to be very helpful. Admittedly, the chapter about a
grocery store experience was a bit over-the-top, but the bits and
pieces I took from this suggestion really worked.

One thing that I have always had a difficult time with is patience. I am
unfortunately always rushing from here or to there and these are moments
when I have no patience for a power struggle over simple things like
wearing coats outside or bringing the entire toy box with us in the car.
Their suggestion is to stay calm, and give choices like: Do you want to
have milk before you go to bed, or juice? This, instead of the battle on
whether or not she was going to bed. We find ourselves laughing at some of
the absurd choices we come up with, and it's harder than it appears to
consistently think this way. What is easy to see is that it works, and
works well. Some of our biggest battles over dressing, or going to bed, or
eating dinner have become much easier and the "uh-oh" said calmly has
stopped some poor behavior in its tracks! What this book suggests is that
by giving them the opportunity to make non-essential choices, you
allow them to have some power, while still accomplishing your goal,
completely eliminating the power struggle.

I do embrace the fact that testing the limits is a natural and healthy way
for young children to learn. This book gave me some great insights on
how to facilitate and not discourage that type of learning, and yet still
teach the right behaviors.

Another one that has been recommended to me is:
"Kids, Parents and Power Struggles" by Mary Sheedy Kurchinka

For more information, check out:
www.loveandlogic.com

"Kids, Parents and Power Struggles"

A Tip from 2008: Great Articles on Preschool!

Hello Triple B Members,

This week's tip is from Jessica, one of our Fall 2007 members. She found this fabulous website that has lots of parenting information and has several great
articles on what to look for in a preschool. Just search "preschool" and an
entire list of valuable information will pop up! Please check it out!
Thank you Jessica!

www.wondertime.go.com

A Tip from 2008: Important Parenting Advice!

Hello Triple B Members,

I wanted to share with you two pieces of advice I have received as a mother that have proven to be very valuable to me:

1) Give your child compliments rather than criticism. Just like adults, when children receive compliments their self esteem goes up and their sense of security and belonging are strengthened. Although love is unfortunately not enough to raise a child, nurturing and love are part of discipline. Children who feel loved and cared for have the desire to please their parents and therefore are better listeners.

2) If you take your child to class and they don't want to participate, don't push them. I remember taking my daughter to class, and really being disappointed that she would not participate. I would try and bribe her, and I would threaten to take away toys and make nap time earlier. You name it, I tried it! In the end, all that happened was that I left very frustrated and so did my daughter. We hadn't accomplished anything except a cranky mother and child.

Rather than to push, gently encourage your child and allow them to participate in class at their own pace, a little bit at a time. Be sure to praise their actions when they do participate. By allowing them to set their own comfort level, you are teaching them to become independent and helping them to build self confidence. When you push, they not only will be liable to do the exact opposite of what you wanted, but in addition, they will remember one of their first learning experiences in a negative way. When you leave class, discuss the positive aspects of the class with your child even if they happened from the sidelines. They will get a lot more out of it, rather than concentrating on why your child didn't participate.

Enjoy and have a great week!


A Tip from 2008: Alternative Schools

Hello Triple B Members,

In a follow-up regarding an article about the difficulty of gaining admission to schools in Chicago, I wanted to let you know that there are always other options. Last week, I was invited to visit the Bucktown Charter School of Chicago. It was not a name I had heard of before, yet I was thoroughly impressed by what I saw.

While they don't offer preschool, they do offer programs from
Kindergarten through eighth grade. I watched the children work on their
reading with an innovative computer program, create a play in the music
room, and work on their mathematics skills. Students work in small groups
on different topics and seemed to be very engaged and interested in their
activities. In addition, each class has access to their own laptops.

A charter school is a school that is funded by the state, but that is
actually run by the charter program. Thus, they are not subject to the
same behavioral rules and are subjected to the charter system standards
rather than to be governed by those of the state. In addition, they are
also expected to be at or to exceed the test scores of the public school
system.

What I found to be truly interesting was that while this is not a school
that you might hear about, their tests scores are extremely competitive with those of Drummond Elementary (which was mentioned in the
article in the Chicago Tribune). In fact, Drummond was mentioned in the
article as being as difficult to gain admission to as Harvard. My point; there are other compatible schools out
there. They may not always be the ones that are creating a buzz around
the city, but there are certainly other good schools that you should be
researching as other options.

Remember that preschool is just that. It is not the end of the world or
your child's education if you do not get into your school of choice.
There are many other options that can prepare your child for school,
including Preschool Prep programs, which we offer right here at Bubbles.
The most important thing is to find a happy place where your child
can socialize, a place where they can learn how to get along with
their peers and create friendships, and a place where they can gain
independence as they separate from their parents.

A Tip from 2008: My Favorite Children's Author

Hello Triple B Members,

If you have not come across Mo Willems and his wonderful line of
children's books, than take a trip to your nearest book store and purchase
them. The pictures are simple and easy on children's eyes, yet they have
the perfect mix of child and adult humor. Mo Willems has such a handle on
the mind of a child, and yet he definitely seeks out the humor that all
parents seem to appreciate when it comes to parenting.

His latest book is "The Pigeon Finds A Puppy". I don't have this one yet,
but I have all of the rest including "Leonardo the Terrible". I can't
wait to buy this for my daughter, who has enjoyed his books since she was
two, yet she always returns to them on her book shelf even at age six!

Enjoy!

Check out Mo Willems' work and blog at www.mowillems.com

A Year of "Tips!"

Hello Triple B Members!

As 2008 is coming to a close, I thought I'd spend a winter afternoon posting some "Tip of the Week" emails from the last year. For anyone who missed them the first time around, or can find new wisdom or humor months later, enjoy! Happy New Year!


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Winter All-Day Open Play!

Lots of energy and nowhere to go? Our Winter All-Day Open Play is here to help keep the cold-weather blues away! Make sure to mention our special holiday price, see you there!

(All dates are from 9am-4pm)

Friday, Dec. 26th
Friday, Jan. 2nd
Saturday, Jan. 3rd

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tip of the Week: Toys to Treasure!

The other day I was thinking about Christmases past and I suddenly realized that my daughter probably doesn’t remember the early ones. At age two, she came down the stairs to view the rocking horse, dollhouse and train set we spent all night putting together and she burst into tears! It was not the reaction we were hoping for, but nonetheless I enjoyed every purchase I had made that year. I am so thankful that at age six, she still believes in the magic of the holiday season. I look forward to surprising her with the special toys that I have found this year.
There is nothing better than shopping for your baby as they experience the magic of the holidays. I thought I would share some of the special toys I have come across that both you and your baby will enjoy! (Trust me, you will appreciate these once you start receiving Polly Pockets and Spider Man toys when they are older). The toys on my list are truly keepers!

Dolls

The adorable, made-to-order dolls from Bumblebird are the ideal first baby dolls, soft and cuddly beyond belief. ($20-$25) http://thesillywagon.com

Jenny Kraus's bright, happy Yo Yo Dolls are handmade by Bolivian artists, and should be a pre-requisite for every new mom. ($25-$50) www.uncommongoods.com

Dress-Up

I personally like handmade things that are different, and unfortunately I am not talented enough to create them. These handmade capes let boys and girls be their own heroes! ($30) www.etsy.com

Trucks and Planes

Where can you find colorful, wooden, handmade, and cute? It can be done! I really like Maple Landmark's biplane--and the best part is the moving propeller! ($32) www.wilddill.com

The Little Tipper Dump Truck is a keeper as well. It is a wonderful toy, and handmade by developmentally challenged adults at Camphill Village, which is a wonderful way to help these talented people ($39.90). If your child enjoys building and stacking consider the 46-piece Heavy Hauler ($65). www.novanatural.com

First Christmas

I was impressed with the hand knit, ultra soft, cotton from Bla Bla Kids, all made by a women's cooperative in Peru. They are just beautiful! ($29) www.blablakids.com

The gorgeous handmade cashmere jingle balls from Kistner Supply are simply the best gift you could give a new mom. Not only are they beautifully presented, but the baby will love them too. They are soooo soft! ($45) http://kistnersupply.com

I also like the rattles that double as dolls, like the vintage style baby pig or baby elephant rattle at the Baby Gardner. ($28) http://thebabygardner.com

Tired of teething? These are a must! These fabulous, Waldorf style doll rattles, which become safe, soothing teethers when wet down and frozen. ($19) www.shopsparrowla.com

Start them out safely with the soft NooNoo sheep rattle made of bamboo and organic cotton. ($25) www.shoptwig.com

Babies love the bright, colorful eco-friendly wooden rattle from Plan Toys made of sustainable rubber wood. ($12) www.happygreenbaby.com

From the makers of the beloved Sophie Giraffe comes the funky fungi, the Chan Pie Gnon teethers. They are so much fun and they are handmade out of phthalate-free rubber in the French Alps! ($12.95) www.zoebonline.com

Enjoy!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Tip of the Week: Some Winter Fun!

Hello Triple B Members,

Are you at your wit's end? Wondering why you live in this terrible climate? Are you stuck indoors with your children pulling on you, telling you for the fifteenth time that there is "nothing to do" and they are bored?

Well then, I highly recommend taking advantage of Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier which runs from December 5th until January 4th. Not only will it get you and the children out of the house, but you will truly enjoy yourselves. There is something for every age including train rides, ice skating, a visit with Santa, cookie making, arts and crafts, and too many moon jumps to count (one for every age)! It is beautifully done, and the entire family will enjoy! The best part is that it is a lovely winter wonderful, except for the fact that it's warm! Don't forget to take your camera, I am sure it will become a family tradition!

Enjoy!

More information below:

Bank of America Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier
December 5, 2008 - January 4, 2009

Free Admission*

The most magical event of the season, Winter WonderFest, returns to Navy Pier's Festival Hall. Now in its eighth year, this favorite Chicago holiday tradition will once again delight visitors both young and old with a breathtaking winter wonderland of hundreds of trees, family attractions, thousands of lights, and non-stop holiday entertainment.

Hours:

Dec. 5-6: 10a - 10p
Dec. 7-11: 10a - 5p
Dec. 12-13: 10a - 10p
Dec. 14-18: 10a - 5p
Dec. 19-20: 10a - 10p
Dec. 21-23: 10a - 8p
Dec. 24: 10a - 5p
Dec. 25: Closed
Dec. 26-27: 10a - 10p
Dec. 28-31: 10a - 8p
Jan. 1: 10a - 10p
Jan. 2-3: 10a - 10p
Jan. 4: 10a - 8p

*Activity wristband prices vary. For more information, visit the Navy Pier Winter WonderFest website.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Tip of the Week

 Hello Triple Members, 

If you are like me, you are deluged by your pint size Picasso with
artwork on a daily basis. Of course, you don't want to harm their
egos, but let's face it, if we kept everything we would have a mini
museum in our house! Here are some fun ideas, on how to show off
your child's artwork while not taking over the house with it.

1) Take pictures of the pieces that you really like, and put them
in a scrap book.
2) Buy some beautiful vintage frames without glass and hang them in
your kitchen. Then you can display your child's pictures in the
frames and rotate the artwork in and out.
3) Use your child's artwork as wrapping paper for the holidays!
This is also a great way to look after the environment by recycling.
4) Send them to relatives. Who needs store bought cards when you
can simply fold them or write a message on them and then send them
off to grandparents and other family members!
5) Most importantly, organize the artwork. There are many
different portfolios that you can purchase to house your child's
artwork if they are pieces that you would like to save.
6) Take your child's artwork and turn it into an invitation for
their next birthday party or even as your holiday greeting card.

And above all, never throw out a child's work when they are there
to witness it, as you would not want to hurt their pride and sense
off accomplishment. Of course, you can't save everything, so if
you must, here is a little tip from me: Throw them in the garbage
when they are sleeping and make sure to wrap it in a bag or paper
towel, as you don't want them to discover that you have thrown out
that "special picture that was made just for you"!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Tip of the Week

Hello Triple B Members,

It is often that I find myself wondering where I went wrong in this thing called parenting! I was beside myself when I realized that I had missed the "window of opportunity" to learn how to discipline my one year old. I was horrified when my daughter turned orange because the only vegetable she would eat was sweet potatoes! French fries count as a veggie don't they?

I still am constantly scouring the shelves for books on how to best parent my daughter. I find myself saying to her "Patience is a virtue", just like my mother did to me, only now I understand exactly what she means! No, my daughter doesn't usually like to listen to me, that is true, but I have done some things right, haven't I?

As mothers, we find ourselves striving to be the perfect role model for our child, and yet I have to remind myself that in the scheme of this thing called parenting there are only a few golden rules that both you and your child will remember about your time together:

1) Give lots of love, hugs and kisses to your children and to your spouse
2) Take time to listen to one another
3) Sit down and eat together
4) Read and play together
5) Try not to raise your voice
6) It's alright to take time for yourself once in awhile, and it will make you a better parent!
7) Be patient-"Patience is a Virtue"
8) Ignore a mess
9) Share a memory from your childhood
10) Say "I Love You"

In the end it truly doesn't matter if your child's hamper is overflowing. They won't remember the food you fed them or the crumbs always swept from the floor, but they will remember the time you spent with them and the love you gave them! That is worth far more than anything else, and that is what they will remember and take with them!

Enjoy!

Kim